“No AI was used to design it”: Elon Musk shares stunning visual of Starship straight out of sci-fi

Elon Musk recently shared a breathtaking visual of SpaceX’s Starship, proudly emphasising that “no AI was used to design it.” The post serves as a reminder of the spacecraft’s real-world progress, contrasting with its almost science-fiction-like appearance in photographs by space photographer John Kraus. Musk’s comments also align with his long-stated Mars colonisation vision, first outlined at the International Astronautical Congress in 2020, where he detailed Starship’s ability to carry 100 people per trip using a fully reusable rocket. The renewed attention underlines both SpaceX’s engineering innovation and the cultural fascination surrounding humanity’s future in space.

Elon Musk claims Starship was designed without AI

Musk’s post directly highlighted that SpaceX engineers developed Starship without relying on artificial intelligence. This sets it apart in an era when AI tools dominate industries from aviation to automotive design. Instead, SpaceX engineers relied on iterative testing, simulation, and rapid prototyping to refine the spacecraft, showcasing the power of human ingenuity in solving complex engineering challenges.







The visual of Starship shared online look strikingly futuristic, sparking comparisons to science fiction. Yet they reflect tangible progress: SpaceX confirmed in its 24 September 2025 update that nearly 90% of Starship’s components are now 3D-printed, reducing manufacturing costs by 50% compared with traditional methods. This blending of cutting-edge techniques with visionary design explains why Starship resonates so strongly with the public imagination.

Elon Musk’s Mars colonisation vision

Starship has always been central to Musk’s dream of making humans a multiplanetary species. At the 2020 International Astronautical Congress, Musk proposed using Starship to ferry 100 people at a time to Mars, with full reusability being key to affordability. The spacecraft is now seen as a stepping stone not only for Mars exploration but also for revolutionising Earth-to-Earth transport and deep-space missions.

Alongside Kraus’s awe-inspiring photographs, Musk’s post was paired with a humorous Mentos-Coke rocket image, reflecting public fascination and playfulness around space travel. Such cultural moments reinforce Starship’s dual identity: both a serious engineering milestone and a symbol of humanity’s futuristic aspirations. The renewed buzz also highlights how SpaceX continues to merge science, technology, and imagination in ways that capture global attention.